Saboteurs aim to wreck first badger cull

Natural England issued the first licence for a pilot cull yesterday, the start of a controversial attempt to tackle tuberculosis in cattle by shooting thousands of badgers, which are blamed for spreading the disease.

Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, said he hoped that the four-year pilot in Gloucestershire would lead to a nationwide cull. Animal rights groups promised “direct action” to block the cull. Opponents, who include celebrities such as Brian May, the rock guitarist from Queen, say it is cruel and unlikely to address the TB problem.